It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

"At first glance, your life isn't much different from ours, compared to what we've led. A worthless young master, reduced to dejection at home because of a setback, with no worries about survival, is actually called upon to save the world? It's because of you, a worthless person, that I failed to protect the only person who matters to me in this world, my sister. And, my most viable way to survive right now is to rely on you."

Katie laughed a few times as she spoke. But she also quickly hugged Bai Lin's hand tightly, using her eyes to indicate that those excessive words were not her real intention at the moment, and then continued,

"Originally, I wanted to die. But I made a promise to my sister that I would try my best to live even after her death. At that time, I thought carefully, your kindness and somewhat foolish sensibility would make it easy for us to get along. Apart from other things, you are not bad looking either. I don't mind letting me live like this for a while."

Caring about appearance is considered vulgar in the eyes of the world. However, without a good appearance, it is difficult to understand the inner qualities of the other person. Katie didn't care about revealing this point. Rather, she said it in front of Bai Lin.

Even if she had to dig out her heart and give it to the other person, it wouldn't be a big deal, let alone this?

"As long as I show a bit of weakness, I can even tease you a little if I want to, so as to draw you closer to me. This way, I can tie a reliable labor force to my side, and even provide me with some emotional value. Even if I raise a cat, I have to treat it as my master and provide for it. You... you can even support yourself. I will not let such a good thing go unnoticed."

If the situation between the two is analyzed as a transaction of interests, it may indeed be the case. In this way, Katie's excessive ambiguity and initiative in the early days of their relationship can be explained too much. However, at this moment, her smile was not evil at all, but she gently squeezed Bai Lin's hand.

"Gradually, I discovered that your foolishness... or rather, your persistence, was beyond my imagination. Although I couldn't read your ability to resurrect at the time, I could clearly see your pain. You were actually making such an endless effort? It's unbelievable."

"At that time, I still believed that you would soon face reality. However, you didn't. So, I joined you because I was worried that you would die out there. If that happened, my last refuge in the village would probably be gone soon. So, I have to give a little more. Anyway, there's not much to do normally, and there's no need to hide my strength in front of you. These are nothing."

That first experience, that first support. Even after all the changes, Bai Lin still considered Katie one of her most compatible partners. Her support was incredibly powerful, her tactics meticulous, and even her post-battle care meticulous. Bai Lin knew she was worried about him, and everything became increasingly smoother.

"Until you died. The first time you died in front of me."

Folding her hands, Katie exhaled and looked out the window with a far-reaching gaze.

"Perhaps you don't remember, since it was a long time ago. I fought the elf, knowing full well that I couldn't win. It was only then that I realized—"

Katie turned around and looked at Bai Lin. She gently played with the ends of Bai Lin's hair, and wanted to put her hand on her cheek, as if she were doing it to a delicate doll. But she seemed to think that the situation was a bit strange, so she didn't do it. She just smiled and said,

"I seem to have some feelings for you."

By now, Bai Lin was well aware of the power of the elves. Even if Claire was a bit of a slacker, she couldn't possibly be as weak as he and Katie could defeat her back then. Now it seemed like her killing him was just a joke, and that she'd completely let Katie down in the fight.

But Katie's words, and this fact, were far more important than that. Her pupils trembled, still unsure how to respond. But she felt the communication between them—their body language, their eyes, their words—was so open and natural, and therefore incredibly comfortable.

It's impossible for people in this world to completely connect with each other. Even if they share the same experience through telepathy, they can still have different perspectives. Everyone lives in their own unique world. Communication is the connection between worlds and the greatest contact between people.

The art of speaking can avoid friction in communication. And this most natural communication, for two people who are in tune with each other, will naturally lead to the most genuine and unconditional feelings.

"I can't really put my finger on why I like you, Bai Lin. Maybe it's your looks? Is it the way I see your peaceful sleeping face when I open the curtains and let in the first rays of morning sunlight? Is it your clumsy yet reliable, solid figure as the sun shines down on me? Is it the sense of security I get every night when I fall asleep knowing someone is by my side?"

Katie Pello turned aside, closed her eyes, and thought deeply.

"If I had to delve deeper, perhaps I see in you the same perseverance and simplicity that I see in my sister? From a physiological perspective, perhaps it's just my unwillingness to live that's playing tricks on me, my urge to survive. I'm trying to find more spiritual sustenance, a reason to live."

"Actually, none of this really matters. To put it in a more typical way, even if you raise a cat or a dog, you have feelings for them, let alone a person. In short, it's a naive, yet real, feeling. Perhaps it can't be called love between lovers, it's just a feeling."

Katie bit her lower lip slightly. Unlike other girls, she wasn't one to be stubborn. If she were to say it was a light affection, it was just like the faint smile on her lips, just right, not disappointing at all. And her gentle words continued to stir up memories of the past.

Chapter 1058 So What? I Still Love You

"After that, we went through a lot together. It wasn't until I revealed everything to you on the snowy plains and heard your understanding that my feelings became clear. I clearly understood that I loved you, so I began to try to get you at my own pace."

Katie smiled even brighter as she spoke.

"According to your side... this is called knowing three and taking three, right? Strictly speaking, my actions are indeed in that sense, but I don't care about that. I've been a bad girl who has been regarded as a witch since I was a child. I don't care what others think of me anymore. I just want to get what I want."

"Besides, at least in Kamitlan and Dragon Blood Village, monogamy doesn't exist. I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

Indeed, although Katie's pursuit was mostly gentle and silent, it was absolutely straightforward and straightforward. Knowing that Bai Lin had a girlfriend, she really followed her heart and followed the path of truth.

"However, we soon encountered our first misfortune. I was kidnapped, and the world didn't give us a chance to react. In that battle, we all fought with all our might, but there was still no hope."

"At that time, I thought, rather than destroying myself at the hands of that dragon, I might as well give you everything. If possible, I still want to live and gain your love. That time was indeed a helpless act. Perhaps, before I die, I will let you lie to me and tell me that you love me? Humph, I won't be so great before I die."

Bai Lin still couldn't laugh at Katie's playfulness. After all, it was too sincere, and it wasn't even accurate to call it a joke.

"Fortunately, I survived, with you."

"After that, it was an experience that you and I are both more familiar with. I like you, and while I want you, I also hope that nothing happens to you and that you don't push yourself too hard. So while I'm strengthening my position in your heart, I'm also trying to dissuade you from your behavior."

"It wasn't until that house robbery that I realized even more profoundly how much you cherished me. After all, that dragon still destroyed the world last time, and you were fulfilling your duty. So I clearly understood that all you needed was an opportunity."

"Because I won't be able to be by your side anymore, I'm a little anxious about this. I thought that if we established a relationship, then even if I wasn't by your side, you would still hold back. So, I took advantage of your impatience and got your confession."

Katie paused. The facts behind the conversation that day, under the street lights, were indeed true, but the words she had said that day were definitely not false.

"Well, I also got the love I wanted."

Her love was real, and so was Bai Lin's. From that moment on, Katie felt as if she had come alive again, and her expectations for life, completely concrete, were born.

Did Katie care about an ordinary life? At best, she just wanted to experience it a little, just as she had initially yearned to interact with people outside the village. But that was nothing. Once she tried it, she would find it unsatisfying. Compared to all that, there was only one thing that was certain.

She wanted to welcome tomorrow because she loved Bai Lin.

"After that, the number of times I read your mind decreased significantly. I didn't need to deliberately confirm it, I could still feel your genuine love. What kind of real couple reads each other's thoughts every day? It's so boring, I don't think we really need it. However, this really gave you these opportunities to deceive me."

"But I told you, it's not your fault."

Katie shook her head, then threw herself into the other's neck.

"We see each other less and less. When we do talk, it seems to have become a little distant. I was thinking that since we're a couple, I should give you some space. You'll slowly sort things out, and it's best not to bring them up with me. I don't want to burden you with work, especially when you're with me. I'm not the type to be unreasonable."

"But now I realize I was wrong, completely wrong. Love is possession. I have the ability to question and resolve them. Why did I wait until today to discover them? It's like I was acting out a play using very simple means to make you anxious and then confess your love to me. What we performed between us was also a perfect and logical play."

"But is it really supposed to be like this? Just because it looks beautiful, does that mean it's good?"

They leave no negativity in the family and no affection outside. In the eyes of others, perfect couples each do their part, remain loyal to each other, never have conflicts, and never quarrel. It is simply an enviable relationship.

However, is this really a good thing?

The questioning sentence, along with the waves of heat, made Bai Lin feel waves of excitement. She probably understood what Katie wanted to say.

Yes, is perfection all that matters? If people truly open up to each other, conflict is inevitable. It's precisely because of this genuine openness that arguments arise, and that makes arguments more likely.

Perhaps Bai Lin and Katie were a match made in heaven. Even when they weren't fighting, they kept a respectful distance from each other. When they met, they were filled with affection, but when they parted, they went their separate ways... perhaps this was also a good relationship.

But Katie doesn't think so. True love shouldn't be like this.

She raised her head and pressed her body even closer to Bai Lin's, as if wanting to embrace him.

"Bai Lin, we shouldn't be like this. I've truly loved you for a long time, but I naively thought we could really be in love like people of our age should be, getting closer to each other with each heartbeat, and then calmly revealing the truth between you and me."

"But the reality is that we must have a long talk today. This is a very important matter. I will give everything for my love. Because of this, I must help you and stand by your side. To fulfill your wishes is my wish."

"I can't watch you lose your humanity bit by bit, achieving your goal but forgetting your original vision. This is unacceptable. Every bit of pain you experience is my pain. I must devote all my energy to assisting you, even if it means sharing only a tiny bit of worry."

Gradually, Katie straightened up, her words gradually rising, her lingering affection like a straight line of light in the day, from hazy filaments to gradually brighter, becoming more and more prosperous. Sitting in the morning light, she declared,

"So what if you love more than just me? Loving other people, loving the world, has nothing to do with my loving you. Of course I want everything from you."

The author's words:

I'm sorry for the intermittent updates I've seen recently. My physical and mental condition is a little bad, but it won't last long.

The main reason is that I have the habit of saving drafts that I haven't written yet and don't really want to publish. The drafts are basically written when I have a lot of writing on a certain day. Anyway, not many people read them. If I don't write today, it doesn't matter whether I publish the drafts or not.

Chapter 1059 Chatting

"But even if that's not the case, what I have from you is already enough. You are everything to me. If you don't live well, the daily life you want me to live will be meaningless."

"Perhaps you feel that even if I die, you can find new meaning and continue living, just like your sister did. But last time it was an accident, and this time, if I leave it alone, tragedy will inevitably occur in the future. How can I not take action? Just like if I had known that the attack that night would be like that, how could I have hidden at home and not stayed by my sister's side?"

Steady and powerful words gradually separated Bai Lin from that familiar yet unfamiliar history, allowing her to gradually feel more real from Katie. She felt that she was very familiar with her, but not in the familiar way that the shadow of the sun accompanied her, or the familiarity between girlfriends.

I understand.

It's the same.

Indeed, what Katie Pello wanted to express was, in fact, the exact same will as her own. Because she possessed power and a purpose, this time, she would no longer choose to live a so-called peaceful life... Just like Bai Lin's rejection of the poet's suggestion to "escape," Katie's words now reflected the exact same situation.

Bai Lin wanted to save the world, and she did it for Bai Lin.

Suddenly, Bai Lin woke up with a start. From the moment Katie started talking about these things, she had already been immersed in them without realizing it. That past was thrown in front of her in a different way, completely changing the image of Katie in front of her.

However, not only did she not feel the slightest bit of disgust, a thick fog of emotion, like psychedelic rock, enveloped her mind. Lines of reality connected with logic, and Katie was the girl who actually grabbed Bai Lin's hand, leading her away from the beautiful dream little by little.

When she came to her senses, her body was already trembling. Once again, she felt the weight of the other person's "love".

He loved life, hated tragedy, and loved everyone. And she, with equal intensity, loved only him. Bai Lin also deeply realized that he had never loved that young and intelligent image.

She loved all of Katie, just as she loved all of herself.

"you……"

In a trance, Bai Lin finally opened her mouth. It seemed that her voice was a little hoarse because she had not spoken for too long. Katie smiled,

"Don't be too nervous. It's really hard to accept hearing me say so much at once. It's okay. We can take it slowly. Clear your throat. We can talk later if you have anything to say—"

Just as she was guiding Bai Lin with her usual relaxed attitude, a warm feeling instantly swept over her body. Bai Lin actually came up to her and she hugged him tightly.

Suddenly, love was relieved. Perhaps when Katie confessed this, she was still a little uneasy. She had lied to Bai Lin for so long, would Bai Lin really not mind at all? Although she knew his personality, what would happen if they really had to break up?

But with this hug, all the worries faded away. A true understanding was self-evident between lovers.

The bright morning light shines slowly, illuminating the ordinary streets, and also illuminating this extremely important moment, but it will also turn this love into an ordinary, important moment in every day.

Warm, powerful... Though so strong, her embrace felt so soft. The ebb and flow of her breathing, the beating of her heart, everything was palpable, as real as her emotions—truly, reassuring.

Katie thought so. She couldn't help but close her eyes and immerse herself in the embrace of the two people. She knew that she had succeeded.

"I appreciate your kindness."

However, the words coming out of Bai Lin's mouth were not like that. Bai Lin's emotions were still extremely strong, but she was panting and responding excitedly.

"I actually wanted to use those reasons to drive you away. It's really my fault."

"But I really do like you, Katie. Precisely because I don't want to lose you forever, I'm trying to let go in this somewhat hopeful way. I've lost many people before, including you. This isn't the same level of danger we faced when we first started out. As an immortal, I know firsthand how treacherous this road is, so I absolutely don't wish to walk with anyone else, especially you."

"I'm really touched that you can say this to me. To be honest, compared to what I've been hiding, your things are nothing to me. I receive your love. But the reason I refuse you to go with me is the same reason you want to go with me. I love you, so I can't."

Tears dripped down his back. Although not as strong as last night, the full emotion brought a completely different temperature from the sadness. Bai Lin wiped it away, took a deep breath, and sorted out his emotions.

"Just your words and your heart are enough. Even for you, I will do my best to maintain a normal spirit and face this painful journey. No, I will definitely complete it."

She agreed. Whether it was the poet's wish or Katie's, both were for her own good. So, how could Bai Lin choose a path that would abandon everything just to save the world?

Of course, unless she just agreed verbally.

"What do you mean it's no longer the same as before? Bai Lin, you don't think I'm still the same as before, do you? All these years in school, have I really just memorized the knowledge in the textbooks and got a degree?"

Katie immediately responded to this topic. Then, she shook her head and said with her hands behind her back,

"I understand how you feel, but I also want to tell you that you need help, and I will definitely help you. Furthermore, I have the ability to do so. You are confident that you can make it through this alone, and I also clearly believe that I have the ability to survive these things."

A different kind of aura emanated from Katie. It seemed that today she was more serious than usual, and was taking more control of the conversation. Her eyes were faintly dignified, and her speech became slower and more serious.

"Of course, it's not that I don't trust you. But even if you don't really need me, you have a very clear concern right now—your attitude towards your companions."

"You're placing too much blame on yourself for the deaths of your colleagues. If you continue like this, the situation will only worsen and escalate to a greater degree. Just like when you and Yamashita Kanon talked, even seeing unrelated people being tortured in the newspaper news is heartbreaking."

Chapter 1060 Raccoon

"It's a symbol of your humanity. There's nothing wrong with being kind. But if you let it go, it won't just make you sad; it will eventually become more serious."

Katie paused for a moment, her expression solemn as she stared at Bai Lin.

"You say you don't want to be with anyone anymore, but you can't even fool yourself. You never grieve just for the people you're with, and sooner or later the people you're with will find you."

"There's nothing wrong with being sad and crying. But aren't you a little too arrogant? Admittedly, this is your style. A hero who single-handedly wants to change the world can't help but be arrogant. If it weren't for this arrogance, you wouldn't have made it this far."

"But they, your companions, also chose death for their own reasons. Don't you think that simply attributing their deaths to your own incompetence is a form of contempt and blasphemy towards them? This was truly a helpless act under the circumstances, and it was also their real choice. You, too, need to respect everyone, including me."

Her words were very logical, but it seemed that she didn't give Bai Lin any room for negotiation. She pressed directly against Bai Lin's face, which was completely different from the previous passionate and affectionate state. However, Bai Lin accepted this change naturally. She took a breath, frowned slightly, and replied,

"I've never disrespected you, Katie. You're right, but this world doesn't just mean what you say is right. Even if it makes sense, you'll die from something that doesn't make sense for some reason."

"You've read my memories. This world is inherently bizarre and borders many other material realms. Beyond that, there's the Dusk God, and some other beings I've seen that I can't yet define. Here, death and disaster come without reason. No matter how much you say, it's useless. I won't agree. This isn't for you."

"You're so polite. You don't tell me what happens outside, and you're so gentle to your girlfriend."

During this gap, Katie actually smiled and started to tease the other party, but the second half of her words was much more serious.

"You've said so much, aren't you just thinking I can't survive? Forget it, I can't blame you for not trusting me. After all, I've kept it a secret from you for so long. And we haven't been heart to heart for so long. I can read your mind, but you can't read mine."

Bai Lin didn't deny it. She would at least be gentler in front of Katie, but now that things had come to this, she couldn't say anything. Her words to coax a little girl wouldn't work in front of her, so she just watched Katie stand up quietly, unsure of what to do.

Katie paced around the room for a while, thinking, then raised her head and looked over here.

"Let me think, what did you say? Well, in your words, it means, let's have a fight, Bai Lin."

"……what?"

"It's been many years since we last fought. I know you don't enjoy fighting, but didn't you enjoy fighting Crane? Being able to fully understand your opponent's personality through battle is also your strength."

Katie had no intention of joking, even though she was smiling.

"This is also a kind of heart-to-heart talk, right? I just used words, but I couldn't finish it. So, how about using the method you are more proficient in? Since you think I can't survive——"

"Then do you want to try what it feels like to be defeated by me again?"